Repetitive grind parties should NOT be the main source of leveling

[captainpicard]

I would rather do FFXI style grinding (which was so much fun circa 2004) than leve's. If they deleted leve's, I would probably play more, I would definitely start to take the game more seriously.

[van_arn]

It doesn't matter what "it" is that grants experience, "it" simply needs to be fun. FFXIV needs an transfusion of fun; I don't care how they add it.

[ReapKarmah]

I remember when Final Fantasy use to mean that you could adventure throughout the story and level up appropriately based solely on how far you've traveled. That has never been the same in FFXI and it seems it will never be the same in FFXIV either. In these two games we seem to have to force ourselves to look, feel and act like any/every other MMO out there. It's quite pathetic and we've completely lost the feel of Final Fantasy. Is it really that hard to make "Final Fantasy" "online"?

We should NOT have to grind anything to progress in any game, period.

[SeleneVenizelos]

I remember when Final Fantasy use to mean that you could adventure throughout the story and level up appropriately based solely on how far you've traveled. That has never been the same in FFXI and it seems it will never be the same in FFXIV either. In these two games we seem to have to force ourselves to look, feel and act like any/every other MMO out there. It's quite pathetic and we've completely lost the feel of Final Fantasy. Is it really that hard to make "Final Fantasy" "online"?

We should NOT have to grind anything to progress in any game, period.

I often thought this about 11, but the significant difference is an MMORPG is about progression and developing your characters, more than exploring and working through a storyline. The focus of these games never has and probably never will be entirely on the story, unfortunately. I agree with you, though, it would be nice to have more of a story that combines the mandatory progression of an MMORPG with the steady progression necessary.

[Korbei]

I remember when Final Fantasy use to mean that you could adventure throughout the story and level up appropriately based solely on how far you've traveled.

You cannot compare a massively multiplayer game experience with that of a single player offline game experience. Is that not blatantly obvious?

You can beat any Final Fantasy, start to finish in 20 hours or less. If it only takes 1 day to get to the top level in an MMO, then whats the point of even having levels?

[Mortikhan]

You cannot compare a massively multiplayer game experience with that of a single player offline game experience. Is that not blatantly obvious?

You can beat any Final Fantasy, start to finish in 20 hours or less. If it only takes 1 day to get to the top level in an MMO, then whats the point of even having levels?

This is why I thought that point allotment should not be so open or based on Physical levels. I would have rather seen an "unlocking" system where your attributes would improve based on the classes you decide to level. Later they could have implemented a "swing" point system with a merit point progression. I think it makes sense that a 50 mage class should not be able to swing all of their attribute points into other areas to max out their caps at 1st level.

[ReapKarmah]

You cannot compare a massively multiplayer game experience with that of a single player offline game experience. Is that not blatantly obvious?

You can beat any Final Fantasy, start to finish in 20 hours or less. If it only takes 1 day to get to the top level in an MMO, then whats the point of even having levels?

Even so, this is Final Fantasy in the end. There is no real reason to have to conform to every other MMO out there and make it so boring when it has such huge potential to be far more than it is. Having to grind to level up in any MMO is pathetic and time wasting. I'd rather go back to work!

I'm sure I'm being completely reasonable expecting the same top-line experience from XIV that we've had with previous Final Fantasy titles in the past.

[iAeris]

I actually believe the best to gain exp and become emersed in the story line/game should be via quest completion, not simply grinding, thus as your going through the motion of completing a quest your also gain exp from you actions. However the quests themself/ leves are quite boring at times.

Also I have found in this game players do not seem to communicate much at all unlike say lineage 2. Which doesn't really help much when looking to form parties to gain exp.

[Krausus]

Also let's not forget this poll, where 19.3% of people wanted to level up in a party.(of course that came from a majority of the English players)

for that question you got to choose three answers, ranking up was in the top 3 most chosen, on top of that the top two are kind of a given for party based play.

[MeowyWowie]

The problem with this is that if they make Solo grinding the most effective way of progressing, then no one would party. Everyone wants to advance as quick as they can, within the time they have available to play. Make soloing the fastest way of leveling, and everyone who enjoys partying will get that taken away from them.

If partying (doesn't matter how; grind parties, dungeons, besieged type events, etc, etc) are the prime way of leveling, while solo content is STILL EFFECTIVE, then both sides win. People will want to party, and soloing will still be an effective means of progressing as well. This is how it should be.